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Dirty politics hit home
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By Jeff Haldiman
jhaldiman@newstribune.com
Cole County Circuit Judge Tom Brown is defending himself against negative ads that have been running against him this week and are being paid for by an out-of-state activist group.
The mail flyers, as well as radio and television ads, are paid for by Citizens for Judicial Reform, a group that does have a local treasurer, but has its main funding sources based in other parts of the country and is involved in campaigns on issues across the country.
“This is a group of out-of-staters, who don't want their identity to be disclosed, who are coming in at the last minute in an attempt to influence an election by making statements - and they don't even care whether they're true or not,” Brown said. “They're not interested in any honest debate of the issues, because their point is not whether these things are true or not.”
The ads accuse Brown of raising taxes, setting utility rates and leaving poor citizens in the cold.
“The courts don't have the authority to do either one of those two things - and those people don't care about an honest debate of those issues,” Brown said.
The ads also claim Brown asked to use taxpayers' money to pay for a Christmas Party for court employees, at his house, in 2004.
Brown said there never was a request for taxpayers' money. At the time, the county commission turned down Brown's request because the party was held at his house and not at some other location.
“And, of course, I included no charge for using my house or the efforts and labor going in to it,” Brown said. “It's just, the staff here is getting pretty big. I've done it for years, and continue to do it, because I'm paying for it out of my own pocket, because I think it's important to let our employees know that we appreciate the work that they do.”
Cole County Presiding Commissioner Bob Jones backed up Brown's account of the events and said the commission never thought that Brown was asking for the use of taxpayer money.
According to Brown, the circuit court generates interest income on its deposits and that interest is turned over to the county, which the county commission oversees, and where the monies for the party would have come from.
“Technically we don't have to put the money there, we just think it's a more orderly, accountable way of doing it,” said Brown.
Senior Judge Byron Kinder said there's more at stake here than Tom Brown.
“This is chump change for people with this kind of money. They can spend $175,000 - if they beat him, they'll be able to brutalize and intimidate anybody who rises up against them, and those of timid heart will fade and go with them rather than be independent and fair and judicious. It's kind of scary. I've never seen this before.”
When asked for his reaction, Republican Circuit Judge Candidate Jon Beetem said: “This is not me. This is not my way. I've been assured by the county Republican committee and by the state Republican party that there was no local money involved with this effort.”
See also:
Chicago group bankrolls anti-Brown effort
The mail flyers, as well as radio and television ads, are paid for by Citizens for Judicial Reform, a group that does have a local treasurer, but has its main funding sources based in other parts of the country and is involved in campaigns on issues across the country.
“This is a group of out-of-staters, who don't want their identity to be disclosed, who are coming in at the last minute in an attempt to influence an election by making statements - and they don't even care whether they're true or not,” Brown said. “They're not interested in any honest debate of the issues, because their point is not whether these things are true or not.”
The ads accuse Brown of raising taxes, setting utility rates and leaving poor citizens in the cold.
“The courts don't have the authority to do either one of those two things - and those people don't care about an honest debate of those issues,” Brown said.
The ads also claim Brown asked to use taxpayers' money to pay for a Christmas Party for court employees, at his house, in 2004.
Brown said there never was a request for taxpayers' money. At the time, the county commission turned down Brown's request because the party was held at his house and not at some other location.
“And, of course, I included no charge for using my house or the efforts and labor going in to it,” Brown said. “It's just, the staff here is getting pretty big. I've done it for years, and continue to do it, because I'm paying for it out of my own pocket, because I think it's important to let our employees know that we appreciate the work that they do.”
Cole County Presiding Commissioner Bob Jones backed up Brown's account of the events and said the commission never thought that Brown was asking for the use of taxpayer money.
According to Brown, the circuit court generates interest income on its deposits and that interest is turned over to the county, which the county commission oversees, and where the monies for the party would have come from.
“Technically we don't have to put the money there, we just think it's a more orderly, accountable way of doing it,” said Brown.
Senior Judge Byron Kinder said there's more at stake here than Tom Brown.
“This is chump change for people with this kind of money. They can spend $175,000 - if they beat him, they'll be able to brutalize and intimidate anybody who rises up against them, and those of timid heart will fade and go with them rather than be independent and fair and judicious. It's kind of scary. I've never seen this before.”
When asked for his reaction, Republican Circuit Judge Candidate Jon Beetem said: “This is not me. This is not my way. I've been assured by the county Republican committee and by the state Republican party that there was no local money involved with this effort.”
See also:
Chicago group bankrolls anti-Brown effort
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| Halftime happenings | Chicago group bankrolls anti-Brown effort |
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